"to thirst, be thirsty, Mt. 25:35, 37, 42, 44; met. to thirst after in spirit, to desire or long for ardently, Mt. 5:6; Jn. 4:14; 6:35"
Definition and meaning
to thirst, be thirsty, Mt. 25:35, 37, 42, 44; met. to thirst after in spirit, to desire or long for ardently, Mt. 5:6; Jn. 4:14; 6:35
In the original Greek the word is written: διψάω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of dipsao (G1372) across the King James Bible.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
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Common questions
Strong's G1372 (dipsao) is a Greek word that means: to thirst, be thirsty, Mt. 25:35, 37, 42, 44; met. to thirst after in spirit, to desire or long for ardently, Mt. 5:6; Jn. 4:14; 6:35 It appears 16 times in the King James Bible.
The word dipsao (G1372) appears 16 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1372 is dipsao, a Greek word defined as: to thirst, be thirsty, Mt. 25:35, 37, 42, 44; met. to thirst after in spirit, to desire or long for ardently, Mt. 5:6; Jn. 4:14; 6:35. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
dipsao is a Greek word found in the New Testament.